Playing With Fire (Sebastian Vettel)

22. First Steps To Recovery

Two weeks later...

Seb tapped on the bedroom door and waited for Mollie to answer.

"Come in," she called out. He opened the door and entered the room. Mollie was doing push-ups next to the bed. She'd already worked up a sweat.

"Steady on Mols, you don't want to burn yourself out," he said, gently, worried that she was doing too much too soon.

She looked up at him and grinned. "I'm ok. It feels good Seb. I didn't realise how much my fitness had dropped. Plus it stops me thinking of having a drink."

She stood up and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He laughed as she kissed his cheek.

"What's that for? You seem a lot brighter today."

"Just because. And yeah today seems, I don't know, like there's light at the end of the tunnel. I know there's a long way to go yet but, for the first time in a long time, I have hope. And I've got you to thank for that."

"Sweetheart. You've done all the hard work."

"But you've been there Seb. You've held me together. You dried my tears. You stopped me from giving up and popping down the off licence for a bottle of vodka."

"Are you seeing Dr Keller this afternoon?"

"Yes, she'll be here around 4pm. I must thank Britta for finding her. I really don't deserve everyone. You've all been so great."

"Oh that reminds me of the reason I came to see you anyway. Matthew Thorne called. He wants a Zoom meeting tomorrow morning, to catch up on how things are going."

Mollie pulled a face.

"Mols, I think he'll be proud of how far you've come. And we have ten more days until we have to fly to Belgium. You will make even more progress. Antti gets back from Finland on Wednesday. We'd both like it if you could join us training."

"I'd like that. I mean, I suppose I could get Ash out here but to be honest he deserves a long break. He's put up with a lot of shit from me. I wouldn't be surprised if he quit."

"Seriously, it's no problem. I've already brought it up to Antti and he's fine with it. And Ash won't quit. He's devoted to you."

"If you're sure, then yes.  I'd love to."

"I'm positive. Are you hungry?  We could pop out for lunch if you like?"

"That would be nice.  Just give me half an hour.  I need to shower and change."

"Meet you downstairs liebling."

He left her room and headed down the stairs.  Whilst he was waiting for her he cast his mind back over the past two weeks.

She'd been a shadow of her former self when they'd arrived at his Swiss home. She hadn't been eating properly. She hadn't been sleeping properly. Every night for a week he'd been woken by her sobs. And every night he'd gone to her and held her until she was all cried out.

He'd put her in the spare room as he didn't want her to feel pressurised into anything. He wanted to get back together with her more than anything but he was leaving the next move up to her. She knew how he felt. When she was ready, he would be waiting. She had to get herself better first. He was content knowing that she still loved him, that there was still a chance for them.

She'd started her sessions with Dr Keller a couple of days after they had arrived. Britta had said she was highly recommended.

Seb had no idea what they spoke about every afternoon in his office but it looked like it was helping.